Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed plans to progress Scotland’s ground-breaking children’s rights legislation, announced by Deputy First Minister John Swinney today. The UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill was backed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament in March 2021, but could not be implemented because of a legal challenge brought by the UK Government. In October, the Supreme... Continue Reading →
SNP: Scotland can be a Global Leader on Human Rights and Tackling Discrimination
ALL PARTIES CHALLENGED TO INCORPORATE UN TREATIES INTO SCOTS LAW Scotland can be a global leader in upholding and strengthening human rights and tackling discrimination, the SNP has said today, with the party committing to incorporating additional United Nations treaties into law if re-elected this May. Last month, the SNP Scottish Government passed the UNCRC (Incorporation)... Continue Reading →
Unnecessary’ Human Rights Act Review Must Not Undermine Holyrood
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today noted that the Scottish Government had not been consulted by Westminster in its announced plans to review the Human Rights Act following Brexit. The UK Government announced earlier this week that it intended to review the 1998 Human Rights Act, which allows UK citizens to rely on the European Convention... Continue Reading →
Voluntary sector has shown how vital it is: it must now be valued accordingly
The Equalities and Human Rights Committee’s 2019 Valuing the Third Sector report and our most recent budget scrutiny work have highlighted the significant contribution of the third sector in providing support to the most vulnerable in society, while also demonstrating the need for a new approach to funding and collaborative working to ensure this vital... Continue Reading →
Family Court Process to Be More Child Friendly
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed the passing of legislation which makes radical changes to family court proceedings more child friendly. The Children (Scotland) Bill will require all children’s views will have to be heard and taken into account in family cases, subject to extremely limited exceptions. The presumption that only children aged 12 and over... Continue Reading →
Consultation on Children’s Hearings Age Range to Tackle Young Offending
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed the announcement of a consultation on raising the age which young people can be referred to a children's hearing from 16 to 18. The Scottish Government’s consultation, which is open until October, also asks whether improvements are needed to the advice and support available for young people who are victims... Continue Reading →
Civil Partnership Bill Offers Equality of Opportunity for Couples
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed the passing of legislation that will allow mixed-sex couples to enter a civil partnership in Scotland for the first time. The Scottish Parliament unanimously passed the Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill which now allows all couples to have the same choice when deciding to legally recognise their relationship. During the legislative... Continue Reading →
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month 2020
Ruth Maguire MSP has given her support to recognise Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month 2020 in an ongoing effort to recognise the contributions of travelling communities to Scottish society. The month of June has been used to mark Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month (GRTHM) since 2008 to celebrate the history, culture and language... Continue Reading →
Inquiry Continues as Evidence on Human Rights Impact of Covid-19 Heard by Committee
Ruth Maguire MSP today thanked people and organisations who contributed evidence towards a Holyrood inquiry on the impact of Covid-19 on equalities and human rights. The Scottish Parliament’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee today heard evidence from organisations acting on behalf of women and elderly people as groups who have been disproportionately impacted by the... Continue Reading →
Long Term Covid Decisions Should Centre on Human Rights
Ruth Maguire MSP has called for the Scottish Government to take a human-rights based approach to decision making on suppressing the coronavirus outbreak which includes the needs of disabled people. During an open debate in the Scottish Parliament on the next steps to be taken in responding to the health crisis, the SNP MSP cited... Continue Reading →
Ruth Maguire MSP (SNP) 